Social Insurance Administration
90th Anniversary Conference on 30 September
26th August 2026
The Social Insurance Act came into force in 1936, and in the same year, the State Social Security Institute was established. It showed great foresight for a small nation to legislate on various types of insurance for its citizens, thereby laying the foundation for a safety net for those who need it for various reasons. Over time, the State Social Security Institute evolved into the Social Insurance Administration, Icelandic Health Insurance, and the Directorate of Labour.
Conference in Harpa
The ninetieth anniversary of social insurance will be commemorated on 30 September with an open conference in Harpa, which will discuss social insurance in Iceland and review the history, development, and future of the system. The interaction of social insurance with the labour market, trade unions, pension funds, and research in the field will also be discussed. We will have international guests, and there will be presentations from, among others, the OECD, the ISSA (International Social Security Association), the Ministry for Social Policy and the Family of Malta, as well as the directors of social insurance administrations in the Nordic countries.
The conference is organised by the Social Insurance Administration, Icelandic Health Insurance, and the Directorate of Labour.
The registration link is here.
Programme
9:00 - Opening
The Minister of Social Affairs and Housing delivers an address.
The Minister of Health delivers an address.
9:15 - The Administration and Stakeholders
The Directors of the Social Insurance Administration, Icelandic Health Insurance, and the Directorate of Labour will give presentations on the main challenges and opportunities in their respective fields.
Panel discussion with stakeholders, where cooperation, user services, and the future vision for the welfare system will be discussed.
10:45 – Coffee Break
11:15 – Involvement and Interaction of the Labour Market, Pension Funds, Trade Unions, and the Academic Community
Representatives from the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise, the Icelandic Pension Funds Association, the Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASÍ), and the University of Iceland will give presentations.
12:15 - Lunch
13:00 - The Situation in an International Context – Experience, Knowledge, and the Future of Social Insurance
OECD: The future of social protection and social policy.
ISSA: Social security, navigating change for success.
Ministry for Social Policy and the Family, Malta: Development of social insurance in Malta, evolution to present day, and perspectives on the future of social protection and social policy.
14:30 – Coffee Break
14:40 – Panel discussion with representatives of Nordic social insurance administrations
End of conference and summary.
16:00 – Light refreshments and social gathering
Please note that after 13:00, the programme will be in English.
Registration on the website almannatryggingar.is
Registration closes on 20 September.